Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s recent visit to South Korea—part of a high-level delegation for an international investor outreach—was punctuated by a moment of cultural warmth when he was pleasantly surprised to hear a Korean woman speak fluent Punjabi.
A video of the delightful interaction in Seoul has since gained significant attention on social media.
The Unexpected Punjabi Exchange
The woman, who approached CM Mann with folded hands (a traditional namaste gesture), introduced herself in perfect Punjabi:
“I am Simran Kaur, a daughter-in-law from Punjab. I am Korean Punjabi, my husband is Punjabi,” she said.
Her husband, standing beside her, added that it had been 20 years since their wedding. Impressed by her fluency, Mann asked how she mastered the language. She revealed that she was taught by her “in-laws.” The woman concluded the brief exchange by saying, “It felt really nice meeting you.”
Chief Minister Mann later took to Instagram to share a clip of the interaction, emphasizing the importance of their mother tongue:
“Our mother tongue, Punjabi, is not just a language for us… It is our identity,” Mann wrote. “I got the opportunity to meet a couple during my visit to South Korea… it was very nice to hear the mother tongue, Punjabi, from the mouth of a Korean-born daughter,” he added.
Mann’s Investment Outreach Mission in South Korea
The Chief Minister’s visit to South Korea (part of a larger mission that included Japan) was a key component of the state government’s outreach campaign ahead of the 6th Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit, scheduled to be held in Mohali from March 13–15, 2026.
The delegation’s objectives in Seoul included:
- Diaspora Interaction: Mann met with members of the Punjabi diaspora in Seoul, urging them to act as brand ambassadors for the state and to help encourage Korean businesses to invest in Punjab.
- Economic Cooperation: The Chief Minister held a detailed briefing session with Gourangalal Das, India’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, where he outlined Punjab’s vision to increase economic and technological cooperation.
- Key Sectors: Discussions focused on attracting Korean investments in high-potential areas such as manufacturing, food processing, agri-tech, renewable energy, defence, aerospace, and urban infrastructure.
- Investor Confidence: Mann emphasized that Punjab’s industry-friendly policies have already facilitated over ₹1.4 lakh crore in on-ground investments and highlighted the state’s governance reforms like the FastTrack Punjab single-window system for quick clearances.
The Chief Minister is aiming to secure further investments to support the vision of a “Rangla Punjab” by accelerating industrial expansion and creating crucial jobs for the youth.